Packaging system

ABSTRACT

A packaging system is disclosed in which the system comprises a plurality of bags of different sizes, each bag having a first closed end and a second openable end, the second end, in one configuration, being folded over upon itself and secured in a folded orientation by at least one flexible fastener, and a plurality of modular trays of different sizes corresponding to the sizes of the plurality of bags, each modular tray being inserted into a cavity in the bag, the modular tray being adapted to house an article. In some cases, the article may include footwear adapted to be housed within the bag. Various differently sized bags and/or modular trays may also be provided as a system, such that different shaped and/or sized footwear may be accommodated by the packaging system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/774,933 filed Mar. 8, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a packaging system for footwear or other products.

Packaging systems in the footwear industry, at present, generally consist of simple four-sided boxes with an integral or unitary bottom and a top that is removable (e.g., for removing the shoes, boots, or other footwear items from the box). These boxes come in a variety of different sizes to accommodate footwear of varying shapes, sizes, and/or styles. For instance, while a pair of work boots may be housed within a large conventional shoe box, a pair of athletic shoes may be packaged in a shoe box having different dimensions (e.g., smaller). This necessitates the production of many individual shoe boxes to accommodate different sizes and/or styles of footwear. Thus, packaging systems in the footwear industry are plagued by, in some cases, excessive costs due to the multitude of different boxes that must be created (to accommodate these different types and/or sizes of footwear).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention provides a simplified packaging system for footwear, or other products, which reduces cost and improves efficiency.

Another aspect of the invention includes a package comprising a bag having a first closed end and a second openable end, the second end, in one configuration, being folded over upon itself and secured in a folded orientation by at least one flexible fastener, and a modular tray received into a cavity in the bag for housing an article, the article comprising footwear. In certain embodiments of this aspect, the package may also include a flexible fastener that is bendable in opposing directions to secure the bag in a closed state or open the bag. The modular tray of the package may also contain a series of panels, some of which are bendable with respect to one another, and a first of the panels may have a set of slots. In one embodiment, the modular tray is defined by opposed sidewalls running approximately the length of the bag, the sidewalls being connected by a back wall extending transverse to the sidewalls, and a floor extending transverse to the sidewalls and the back wall.

A further aspect of the invention comprises a packaging system, in which the system comprises a plurality of bags of different sizes, each bag having a first closed end and a second openable end, the second end, in one configuration, being folded over upon itself and secured in a folded orientation by at least one flexible fastener. A plurality of modular trays of different sizes corresponding to the sizes of the plurality of bags is also included with the system, each modular tray being inserted into a cavity in the bag, the modular tray being adapted to house an article.

In some cases, the plurality of bags according to this aspect include first, second, and third bags each having a different width, and the plurality of modular trays include first, second, and third modular trays each having a different width corresponding to the widths of the first, second, and third bags. Also, in the folded orientation, the at least one flexible fastener may be bent in a first direction to engage with a portion of the bag and secure the second end of the bag in a closed configuration, the at least one flexible fastener being bendable in a second direction opposite the first direction to allow the second end of the bag to be opened.

Another aspect of the invention includes a packaging system, in which the system comprises a plurality of bags having different widths, each bag having a first closed end and a second openable end, and a dedicated modular tray for each of the plurality of bags, each modular tray having a width that is slightly less than the width of the corresponding bag, each of the modular trays including a series of panels, some of which are bendable with respect to one another so that a first of the panels is attachable to a second and third of the panels to form a cavity for housing an article. Each modular tray may also be inserted into a cavity in the bag, such that the article is contained within the bag. The first panel of each modular tray, according to this aspect, may also have a set of slots, the slots of the first panel being adapted to receive tabs formed, respectively, on the second and third panels of each modular tray.

In some embodiments of this aspect, each modular tray also includes first and second walls running approximately along the length of the corresponding bag, the first and second walls being substantially parallel to one another and defining sides of the modular tray, a third wall arranged transverse to the first and second walls to form a back of the modular tray, the third wall running approximately along the width of the corresponding bag, and a fourth wall defining a floor of the modular tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the subject matter of the present invention and of the various advantages thereof can be realized by reference to the following detailed description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A-B are perspective views (exploded and un-exploded) of a package for holding footwear or other articles, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-C are assembled and un-assembled views of a modular tray for use with the package of FIGS. 1A-B.

FIG. 3 is a transparent view of the package of FIGS. 1A-B with a pair of shoes disposed therein.

FIGS. 4A-B are plan views of an example of the materials used to form the bag(s) and modular tray(s) of the package of FIGS. 1A-B and FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing certain aspects of the present invention, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to any specific terms used herein, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents, which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

FIGS. 1A-B depict a package 10 in closed and open configurations, respectively, the package 10 generally comprising a bag 20 with exterior 22 and interior 24 surfaces, and a first closed end 26 and second openable end 28. As shown in FIG. 1B, a modular tray 50 may be positioned through the second openable end 28 for placement in an inner cavity 46 of bag 20. The modular tray 50 may be arranged within bag 20 to accommodate various types of footwear (e.g., a set of athletic shoes, boots, walking shoes, etc.) In use, package 10 provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional footwear packaging systems (e.g., standard shoe boxes), and is sufficiently durable while retaining certain aesthetic qualities desirable to a user(s).

In one embodiment, end 26 of bag 20 is closed through the use of stitching 30, and particularly via a folded-over piece of material 32 that is stitched 30 through bag 20 to close end 26. Thus, end 26 of bag 20 may be permanently sealed in one embodiment, such that opening end 26 would render bag 20 unusable. Opposing end 28 of bag 20 is selectively openable and closeable. In a particular embodiment, end 28 of bag 20 contains a flexible material 34 attached to one side of the exterior 22 of bag 20 (FIG. 1B), which includes tabs or other fasteners 40 for securing end 28 in a closed configuration. Tabs 40 extend from sides 42, 44 of bag 20 and may be bendable in either direction (e.g., for opening and closing of end 28 of bag 20). In some embodiments, flexible material 34 and tabs 40 may comprise a sheet of cardboard-type material in which a wire(s) is situated to provide resiliency to material 34 and tabs 40. Bag 20, in one embodiment, may also be made of a cardboard-type material.

As shown in FIG. 1B, open end 28 of bag 20 may define a cavity 46 into which modular tray 50 may be inserted (e.g., in the manner indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1B, or otherwise). Modular tray 50, once inserted into bag 20, provides a support structure for bag 20 and defines a housing 72 within which a variety of different types of footwear may be inserted.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, modular tray 50, in this embodiment, may include a series of panels 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 each having at least one slot 64, 65. In some cases: (1) panel may be connected to panels 54, 58 at edges 74, 76, respectively; (2) panel 56 may be connected to panels 54, 62 at edges 80, 78, respectively; and (3) panel 60 may be connected to panel 54 at edge 82. But, panels 58, 62 may not be connected to panel 60 thereby allowing panels 58, 62 to articulate with respect to panel 60. In some cases, panels 58, 62 may be cut at edges 86, 88 to allow panels 58, 62 to articulate with respect to panel 60 (and remain unconnected thereto). In addition, as panels 58, 62 are not connected to another set of panels at one end, slots 64 therein may define respective flexible tabs 70, which may be inserted into slots 65 in panel 60 (e.g., as shown in the progression between FIGS. 2B-C). Stated differently, as shown in FIG. 2A, certain slots 64 in panels 52, 56, 68, 62 form an inverted L-shape; and, depending on where modular tray 50 is cut, slots 64 may form tabs 70 to be inserted into slots 65, such that housing 72 is produced (e.g., to receive footwear). Thus, slots 65 may be fully encased or surrounded by panel 60 in one embodiment. In some cases, several panels 54, 60 may also include a hole 84, and the corners of each panel 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 may be rounded so as to not puncture or otherwise damage bag 20 once tray 50 is inserted therein.

To construct modular tray 50, such that it is in a condition to be inserted into cavity 46 of bag 20, a user may fold up panel 60 vertically, and then fold panels 58, 62 alongside panel 60 to insert tabs 70 into slots 64 in panel 60 (FIGS. 2B-C). Once tabs 70 are inserted into slots 64 in panel (FIG. 2C), modular tray 50 may then be arranged as shown in FIG. 1B and inserted into bag 20, such that panels 58, 60, and 62 form a back of modular tray 50, panels 52 and 56 sides of tray 50, and panel 54 a floor of modular tray 50. Other insertion configurations for modular tray 50 are also contemplated, of course. With modular tray 50 inserted into bag 20, a user may then place certain footwear, such as a pair of shoes 90 as shown in FIG. 3, into bag 20 and close bag 20 using foldable tabs 40 attached to bag 20 (FIGS. 1A-B). Specifically, the user may close end 28 of bag 20 once shoes 90 are inserted therein, and then roll or otherwise fold end 28 over on itself. End 28 of bag 20 may then be secured in the closed position by folding tabs 40 over to secure to a separate portion of bag 20 (FIG. 1A).

Package 10, in its closed configuration with shoes 90 or other footwear housed therein, may then be utilized at certain footwear retailers for storage and/or sale of footwear to consumers, or for shipping or other purposes. To display and/or use shoes 90, the retailer or user may fold tabs 40 in an opposite direction to that discussed above and unroll or otherwise unfold end 28 until it is once again open (FIG. 1B). Shoes 90 may then be removed and shown to a prospective purchaser, or used by the user (e.g., for walking, running, hiking, etc.) If the user or consumer does not wish to use or purchase shoes 90, then bag 20 may simply be closed once again at end 28 via rolling of bag 20 and folding of tabs 40, as detailed above.

While not discussed previously, in some cases modular tray 50 and/or bag 20 may be provided in different sizes to accommodate footwear of varying sizes and/or shapes. In a particular embodiment, while bag 20 is shown as having a certain width extending between sides 42, 44, such width may be varied to accommodate different sizes of footwear; and in particular, three (3) different widths for bag 20 may be offered (e.g., a large, medium, and small-width bag 20, as shown in FIG. 4A). Likewise, while modular tray 50 may have a certain width when measured in a horizontal direction, other width trays 50 may be provided; and specifically, three (3) trays 50 of different widths may be utilized (e.g., a large, medium, and small-width tray, as shown in FIG. 4B). Further, bag 20 and/or tray 50 may be provided as a roll of material having a certain width (e.g., shown in unrolled form in FIGS. 4A-B), and bag 20 and/or tray 50 may be cut to length to accommodate a certain size and/or shaped shoe. For instance, although modular tray 50, when assembled (FIG. 1B), solely includes panels 52, 56 acting as side walls, and panel 54 acting as a floor, still additional panels may form the side walls and floor of modular tray 50 if cut to a different length. In these embodiments, the back of modular tray 50 may still be formed by panels 58, 60, 62, but modular tray 50 may include an additional set of panels (not shown) connected to panels 52, 54, 56, which form an extension of the aforementioned sidewalls and floor of modular tray 50. In this manner, modular tray 50 may be extended to any set length to accommodate footwear of different sizes and/or shapes. Bag 20 may then be cut to a length that accommodates the length of modular tray 50. Thus, in some embodiments, a modular tray 50 of a certain width and length may have a dedicated bag 20 of a corresponding width and length for accommodating modular tray 50.

A simple system can therefore be envisioned in which a variety of differently sized bags 20 and modular trays 50 coincide with one another to create a comprehensive packaging system for housing numerous different footwear combinations. Indeed, it has been found that traditional shoe box systems may require as many as sixty eight (68) different-sized boxes, while with the present system, a vast variety of footwear products can be accommodated in a total of eight (8) bag 20 and tray 50 combinations. Thus, the number of different boxes needed to package differently sized and/or shaped footwear items is greatly reduced by the present packaging system 10, therefore saving in cost of materials and producing greater efficiencies.

In the devices depicted in the figures, particular structures are shown that are adapted for use in a packaging system (e.g., for footwear). The use of alternative structures for such purposes, including structures having different lengths, shapes, and configurations is also contemplated. As an example, although tabs 40 are shown as providing a means for securing bag in a closed state, any other equivalent means may be used, such as a Ziploc-type closure, hook-and-loop fasteners, claps, a resealable adhesive that is applied to portions of openable end of bag 20, or other closure members. In addition, while panels 58, 62 are shown as having tabs 70 for securing such panels 58, 62 to panel 60 (e.g., via slots 65), other connecting means may be used such as an adhesive applied to certain surfaces of panels 58, 62 and adhered to panel 60, or a Velcro-type patch (or patches) applied to panels 58, 62 so as to adhere to an opposing Velcro-type patch (or patches) applied to panel 60. In short, so long as panels 58, 62 may be folded alongside panel 60 to form a back of modular tray 50, any connecting mechanism would suffice.

Although aspects of the invention herein have been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of aspects of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For instance, the features described in connection with individual embodiments may be shared with others of the described embodiments. 

1. A package comprising: a bag having a first closed end and a second openable end, the second end, in one configuration, being folded over upon itself and secured in a folded orientation by at least one flexible fastener; and a modular tray received into a cavity in the bag for housing an article, the article comprising footwear.
 2. The package of claim 1, wherein in the folded orientation, the at least one flexible fastener is bent in a first direction to engage with a portion of the bag and secure the second end of the bag in a closed configuration.
 3. The package of claim 2, wherein the at least one flexible fastener is bendable in a second direction opposite the first direction to allow the second end of the bag to be opened.
 4. The package of claim 1, wherein the modular tray includes a series of panels, some of which are bendable with respect to one another, and wherein a first of the panels has a set of slots.
 5. The package of claim 4, wherein the slots in the first panel are adapted to receive tabs formed, respectively, on second and third panels of the modular tray.
 6. The package of claim 5, wherein when the tabs of the second and third panels are inserted into the slots of the first panel, the modular tray defines an open cavity adapted to receive the article.
 7. The package of claim 1, wherein the modular tray is defined by opposed sidewalls running approximately the length of the bag, the sidewalls being connected by a back wall extending transverse to the sidewalls, and a floor extending transverse to the sidewalls and the back wall.
 8. A packaging system comprising: a plurality of bags of different sizes, each bag having a first closed end and a second openable end, the second end, in one configuration, being folded over upon itself and secured in a folded orientation by at least one flexible fastener; and a plurality of modular trays of different sizes corresponding to the sizes of the plurality of bags, each modular tray being inserted into a cavity in the bag, the modular tray being adapted to house an article.
 9. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of bags include first, second, and third bags each having a different width, and the plurality of modular trays include first, second, and third modular trays each having a different width corresponding to the widths of the first, second, and third bags.
 10. The packaging system of claim 9, wherein the width of each modular tray is slightly less than the width of the corresponding bag so that the modular tray fits within the bag.
 11. The packaging system of claim 10, wherein each of the first, second, and third bags is cut to a different length to accommodate articles of different sizes and/or shapes, and a length of each of the first, second, and third modular trays is sufficient to accommodate the articles of different sizes and/or shapes.
 12. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein the article comprises footwear, and the packaging system is configured to house a variety of differently shaped and/or sized footwear.
 13. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein in the folded orientation, the at least one flexible fastener is bent in a first direction to engage with a portion of the bag and secure the second end of the bag in a closed configuration, the at least one flexible fastener being bendable in a second direction opposite the first direction to allow the second end of the bag to be opened.
 14. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein each modular tray includes a series of panels, some of which are bendable with respect to one another, a first of the panels having a set of slots, the slots of the first panel being adapted to receive tabs formed, respectively, on second and third panels of the modular tray.
 15. A packaging system comprising: a plurality of bags having different widths, each bag having a first closed end and a second openable end; and a dedicated modular tray for each of the plurality of bags, each modular tray having a width that is slightly less than the width of the corresponding bag, each of the modular trays including a series of panels, some of which are bendable with respect to one another so that a first of the panels is attachable to a second and third of the panels to form a cavity for housing an article, wherein each modular tray is inserted into a cavity in the bag, such that the article is contained within the bag.
 16. The packaging system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of bags is cut to a different length to accommodate articles of different sizes and/or shapes, and each dedicated modular tray has a length sufficient to house the articles of different sizes and/or shapes.
 17. The packaging system of claim 15, wherein the first panel of each modular tray has a set of slots, the slots of the first panel being adapted to receive tabs formed, respectively, on the second and third panels of each modular tray.
 18. The packaging system of claim 15, wherein each modular tray includes: first and second walls running approximately along the length of the corresponding bag, the first and second walls being substantially parallel to one another and defining sides of the modular tray; a third wall arranged transverse to the first and second walls to form a back of the modular tray, the third wall running approximately along the width of the corresponding bag; and a fourth wall defining a floor of the modular tray.
 19. The packaging system of claim 18, wherein the first through fourth walls of each modular tray define the cavity within which the article may be placed.
 20. The packaging system of claim 19, wherein the article comprises footwear. 